Thursday, May 22, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Thursday, May 22, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

Registration Ends Tomorrow for Mid-Atlantic Workshop on Systems Engineering for ITS Projects

Tomorrow is the deadline to register for the “Mid-Atlantic System Engineering for Intelligent Transportation System Projects” workshop, scheduled for June 5-6, 2008 in at the Holiday Inn Frederick Conference Center in Frederick, Maryland. This workshop will use the new “Federal Highway Administration Systems Engineering for ITS: An Introduction for Transportation Professionals” guide as a primary reference to introduce systems engineering to management, ITS project managers, and technical and project staff. This workshop is sponsored by ITS Maryland, ITS America, and the U.S. Department of Transportation. The system engineering processes of Virginia and Maryland CHART will be discussed as examples of process development and implementation. The importance and benefits, and the implications for management will be discussed, as will basic systems engineering concepts in the context of ITS projects. The registration fee is $125.00. For registration and hotel information, visit www.itsa.org/itsa/files/RegForm_MidAtlanticWorkshop.doc.

AVIATION

1) Survey: Airline Passengers Nix Cell Phone Talking In-Flight
But they support Wi-Fi access for e-mail and other quiet functions.
Link to story in Computerworld:
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9087798&intsrc=hm_list

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

2) New Hampshire Fixes E-ZPass
State is giving E-ZPass users more time to clear up fines without risking arrest or license suspensions.
Link to AP story:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NH_XGR_E_ZPASS_NHOL-?SITE=NHCON&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

GPS / NAVIGATION

3) TomTom May Head Down Dash Path - and Quickly
Link to story in Directions Magazine:
http://apb.directionsmag.com/archives/4323-TomTom-May-Head-Down-Dash-Path-and-quickly.html

OTHER

4) Metrolink Tries to Censor Bloggers
Link to story in L.A. Weekly:
http://www.laweekly.com/news/news/metrolink-tries-to-censor-bloggers/18960/

5) NOAA Satellite to Track Sea Levels
Link to story in Government Computer News:
http://www.gcn.com/online/vol1_no1/46328-1.html

ROADWAYS

6) Ohio Seeing Blue $$$ Signs
Highway markers for food, gas net millions.
Link to story in The Columbus Dispatch:
http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/05/22/blue_signs.ART_ART_05-22-08_B1_8IA96FT.html?sid=101

7) Signs May Go High-Tech
Innovative signs will sense vehicles’ height, weight and speed to warn crossing traffic of unsafe conditions.
Link to story in the Red Wing Republican Eagle:
http://www.republican-eagle.com/articles/index.cfm?id=50461&section=News

8) Variable Speed Limit Begins on I-270 in Missouri
Link to story in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/7CD01A7907D3ABB58625745100140431?OpenDocument

SAFETY / SECURITY

9) Fed Grant Ending ATA's Highway Watch Program
Link to story in Transport Topics:
http://www.ttnews.com/articles/basetemplate.aspx?storyid=19831

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

10) US Fire Administration, US DOT Complete Traffic Incident Management Systems Study
Link to story in Occupational Health & Safety:
http://www.ohsonline.com/articles/63129/
Link to news release from the US Fire Administration:
https://www.usfa.dhs.gov/media/press/2008releases/052108.shtm
Link to report: https://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/tims_0408.pdf


News Releases
1) Telematics Update Announces Winners of the 2008 International Telematics Awards
2) 33 Million Licensed Americans May be Unfit for Roads, According to Fourth Annual GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test
3) FAA Air Traffic Software Program Saves $27 Million in Delays During First Year
4) New Web Site Highlights Norfolk Southern’s Steps to Sustainability
5) Orange and Nokia to Form Strategic International Partnership on Mobile Services
6) Drive, Walk and Discover the Updated Version of Nokia Maps
7) Intelligent Transportation Society of America Announces New Directors
8) Randell Iwasaki Elected Chairman of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America Board of Directors
9) Mobileye Selected as an ‘Enterprise of Tomorrow’ by Israeli Presidential Conference
10) Ohio State Patrol Web Site to Feature Daily Fatality Updates Over Memorial Day Weekend


Job Posting
- Manager of Special Services – Norwalk Transit District – Norwalk, Connecticut
http://www.transittalent.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=2807
- Safety Specialist – PATCO – Lindenwold, New Jersey
http://www.transittalent.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=2809


Upcoming Events
China In-Flight Entertainment & Communications Summit 2008 – June 26-27 – Beijing
http://www.gisconsult.net/en/ifec2008/index.htm


Today in Transportation History
1903 **105th anniversary** - The SS Iconic, a White Star Line ship, was launched at Belfast.
http://www.titanic-whitestarships.com/WSL_Ionic2nd.htm

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© 2008 Bernie Wagenblast